Insulin-like growth factor-I improves cerebellar dysfunction but does not prevent cerebellar neurodegeneration in the calcium channel mutant mouse, leaner. Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • The effects of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) on cerebellar dysfunction and neurodegeneration were investigated in leaner mice, which exhibit cerebellar ataxia and neurodegeneration related to P/Q-type calcium channel mutations. Leaner mice showed significantly reduced serum and cerebellar IGF-I concentrations compared to wild-type mice at postnatal day 30. Behavioral assessment of leaner mice injected with IGF-I subcutaneously for 4 weeks showed partially improved cerebellar function. Histological analysis of IGF-I treated leaner cerebella showed no difference in the number of dying Purkinje cells compared to control leaner cerebella. These results further support potential use of IGF-I as a therapeutic aid for cerebellar ataxia related to calcium channel mutations. Nonetheless, IGF-I administration does not rescue dying cerebellar neurons, which suggests that the beneficial effects of IGF-I may have been achieved through surviving cerebellar neurons.

published proceedings

  • Neurobiol Dis

author list (cited authors)

  • Nahm, S., Frank, T. C., Browning, M. D., Sepulvado, J. M., Hiney, J. K., & Abbott, L. C.

citation count

  • 8

complete list of authors

  • Nahm, Sang-Soep||Frank, Tamy C||Browning, Michelle D||Sepulvado, Jarita M||Hiney, Jill K||Abbott, Louise C

publication date

  • November 2003